Garment bag



M. DAVIS GARMENT BAG Dec. 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 23, 1956 INVENTOR. M/CHAEL DA V/S JTTORNEYI FICEMI-x Dec. 2, 1958 M. DAVIS GARMENT BAG Filed July 23, 1956 Illl 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllllllll'lti FIG.6.

INVENTOR. MICHAEL M w:

, A ;T0'RNEY,

Patented Dec. 2, 1958 GARMENT BAG Application July 23, 1956, Serial No. 599,380

6 Claims. (Cl. 190-43 This invention relates to collapsible garment bags and valises and in particular to the support structure or frames therefor.

In garment bags and valises of the aforesaid kind it is desirable to be able to fold the same into a compact and reasonably small package forstorage when not in use. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a collapsible frame or support for a pliant or flexible garment bag covering.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a frame for a collapsible bag in which the frame is visibly enclosed within the bag so that it may be manipulated between supporting and collapsed conditions without the necessity of any particular mechanical aptitude on the part of the person performing the manipulations.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible bag having novel garment hanger support structure that is easily operable to effectively support and lock garment hangers thereon in position for travelling.

A further object of the invention is to provide a frame for the collapsible garment bag that is easily collapsed to enable the bag casing to be rolled into a relatively small compact bundle for storage or for convenient carrymg.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the structures and arrangements hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a suitcase in a closed carrying condition.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a-view of the suitcase in its open position with parts thereof partially broken away.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of the hanger locking mechanism in its locked condition.

Fig. 5 is a side view of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion'of the reinforcing frame.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 6, as it would appear in closed condition.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 88 of Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawings wherein the collapsible garment bag is generally identified by the numeral 10.

Bag 10 comprises two coextensive clothes carrying por-' tions 12 and 14, each of which is foldable one relatively to the other in an overlaying side position as shown in Fig. 1 about a central, intermediate stiffener structure 16. The portion 12 includes an upper base 18 having a stiifener member 19, while the portion'14 includes a lower base stiffener 20 which also includes a stiifener such as the member 19. a

Secured to the intermediate stiffener structure 16 is a handle 22 that facilitates carrying the bag 10 when the same is folded in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The two portions 12 and 14 are secured in their folded condition by straps 24 and 26 mounted on the base stilfeners 18 and 20 to secure the same in-their folded condition.

When the straps 24 and 26 are opened the garment bag 10 is folded open to serve much in the manner as a garment closet. To eifectuate this purpose, a book 28 retainable in an inactive position by a strap 30 may serve as a hanger for the complete garment bag 10 when the same is opened as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. The hook 28 thus may be employed to hang the garment bag from any suitable support structure.

The garment bag 10 comprises side linings 32 and an inside lining 33 that extend over the upper base stiffener 18 to the lower base stiffener 20 and that are sufliciently not form a part of the invention, they may be of any well known design and construction.

In order that the bag 10 may be folded in halves as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the intermediate stiffener structure 16 is provided with a flat, stiff member 42 which 7 extends transversely across the width from side 32 to tive positions, and also the interconnecting sides 32, the

collapsible frame structure generally identified by numeral 47 comprises upper and lower sections including base frames 48 and 50 positioned adjacent and connected with the upper and lower base stiffeners 18 and 20 respectively. For the purpose of description of the frame structure 47 it is noted that both the upper and lower frame sections of the overall structure are almost exactly alike in detail, except however, that the upper frame structure incorporates a clothes hanger support generally identified by the numeral 52. Hence, it will suffice for a description of both upper and lower frame sections of the composite frame structure 47 if a description of just the upper frame section is set forth hereinafter.

Swingably mounted on the transverse ends of the upper base frame 48 are arms 54. Only one of such arms is completely shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 7 of the drawings. However, it will be recognized that a similar pair of arms 54a is pivoted to the opposite transverse ends of the base frame member 48 in the structure shown, while in Figs. 3 and 6 of the drawings the arm 54a is pivoted toone transverse end of the lower base frame member 50. The arms 54 are mounted for swinging movement between an active supporting position such as shown in full lines in Figs. 3, 6 and 7 in the drawings, to an inactive foldable position as shown by the dot-dash lines in Fig.

6. With the arms folded as shown by the dot-dash lines in Fig. 6, they overlay their respective base frames and in addition, each of the two arms swingably mounted to their respective base frames, overlay each other. The result is a compact inactive, non-supporting frame structure comprising a base frame and two overlaying frame arms. With the arms folded to their inactive overlaying positions they enable the flexible, pliable fabric comprising the sides and surfaces of the bag to be rolled, one

overthe other into a small compact package, easilystored. or manipulated and carried when not in use.

In order to support the sides 32 of the bag and to retain the upper and lower base stifteners-and::interme diate stiffener one relative to the other in their supported lock the arms in their supporting positions, there isprovided'a locking or"latch-ing structure comprising flexible straps 56, which'are preferably,'-though not necessarily, of spring steel. Straps 56 are securely and fixedly mounted' in any suitable manner for example, by rivets 58, to the stiffener'member- 42 forming a part of the intermediate stiffener construction 16. Hence the flexible straps 56 are securelylocated for movement relative to the intermediate stiflener section and serve to impart to the valise the rounded corners 46, seen in Fig. 1.

The stiffener straps 56, one located on each transverse end of the member 42, and only on'eof which is shown in Figs. 3 and 6 and 7 of the drawings, include at their opposite ends, latching means or sockets 60. The latching means 60 cooperate with latching fingers 62 defined on each of the swingably mounted arms 54. Fingers 62 are formed by bending a portion of the wire that comprises the stretcher frame and supporting arm 54 to project the same from the body of-the arm in atransverse direction so that the same may fit into the socket 60.

Thus, when the arms 54 are swung into their respectivebag-supporting, bag-stretching positions (full line) they are there retained by the cooperative engagement of the latching fingers 62- in the latching means or sockets 60 provided in the flexible straps 56. Flexible straps 56 which extend across the width of the intermediate stiffener section 42, interconnect the supporting arms of. theupper and lower frame sections to define an integral frame construction that supports the flexible covering of the back 33, and the upper, lower and intermediate portions of the bag 10 in their supporting-positions. It will be noted that the arms 54 and the base frames 48 and 50 are formed of wire construction. The wire is easily formed to provide the desired configuration disclosed.

If it is desired to store the bag when the same is not inuse, it is rolled into a compact package. To roll the bag 10 it is merely necessary to open the flap 36 by actuating the zipper 38 so that the wire frame supporting arms 54 are then exposed to view. The fingers 62 are released from engagement with the latching means 60. The arms are then folded up toward their respective base members with each arm overlaying the other and also in overlaying relationship to their base members. The flap 36 may then be closed and the upper stiffener portion 18 of the bag 10 is then rolled down toward the lower stiltener portion 20. In so doing, the overlaying arms will berolled' into the folds of the pliable covering of. the bag. When the rolled structure reaches the intermediate portion 18, the straps 56, being of a flexible, yet sturdy material, will roll into the folds of the bag about the inactive frame support. Hence the flexible straps 56, although sufl iciently strong to latchingly retain the supporting arms of the upper and lower frame section's relative to each other, are of such flexible nature as to permit them to be rolled into the folds of the bag when the same is compacted.

The clothes hanger support 52 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, serves to lock clothes hangers and clothes in place in the garment bag 10 so that they will not he accidentally displaced therefrom to fall in a heap atthe bottom of the bag. In order to accomplish this, the novelstructure ot'the-support 52 permitsa clotheshanger to behooked abouta base portion 64 of a U-shaped. hanger support.

member 66. Thus, as seen in Fig. 4, the hook arm 68 of a clothes hanger 70 has been hooked about the base 64 so that the clothes on the hanger are suspended within the confines of the bag 10.

The U-shaped support member 66 is retained at the ends of its upstanding legs in a frame structure 72 that is in turn secured to the upper base stiflener 18 by any suitable fastening means (Fig. 5). Depending downwardly from the frame 72 are a pair of spaced legs 74 that are secured at-their upper ends by suitable fastening means to the frame 72. The spaced legs 74 are/curled at the base thereof to pivotally accommodate an operable arm 78.

Arm 78 is formed in the nature of a crank having pivot portions thereof extending through the curled openings of the legs 74 and having a depending crank portion 80 positionedbetween. the legs. A pair of lift arms'or links 82 are swingably mounted on the crank portion- 80 at their upper ends and connect for movement with the op-' erablecrank arm78 a locking bar or member 84. The locking bar or member 84 is channel-shaped with the legs of the channel extending downwardly in parallel relationship with the base portion 64 of the member 66.

Hence, when the locking bar is in its lowermost position as shown by the full lines in Fig. 4, its downwardly extending legs will limit the swinging movement of the hanger 76, while its horizontally connectingportion between the legs overlays the hook 68 to limitany possible accidental displacement thereof from about the portion 64. The locking member 84 is constantly urged'into its locking position; by a pair of springs 86 located about eachof the upstanding arms of'the U-shaped hanger member 66, and'thus expandingly bear against thebarto'move it downwardly against the portion 645 When however, it is desired to hook a hanger about the support member 66, the operable arm 78'is moved to swing from its full line position as shown in Fig. 4 to its dot-dashline position, thereby raising its crank 80 to lift the-locking bar 84-inop'po-sition to the normal urgingof the springs 86. The crank portion 80, being angula'rly' offset from the arm 78, is thus moved upwardly into a toggle position whereby the normal urging of the springs 86 is overcome. In this way, the locking bar 84-may be retained in its dot-dash inactive position (Fig. 4), While clothes are hung on the portion 64'of-the support member 66. When it is then again desired to lock the hangers in place about the support, the arm 78 is operated slightly to overcome the toggle action created between its crank 80 and its supports 74'to'return the locking bar 84 into.

its normal locking position.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to belimited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I'claim':

1. In a collapsible frame for agarment bag having an.

wall and side walls comprising a*transverse base, arms swingably mounted on the transverse ends of said base for movement between supporting andcollapsinggposi trons,- flexible straps one for'each of said armsfixedly mounted on said intermediate wall of said bag, each strap including latch means thereon on the ends thereof, and latch means on each of said arms adjacent the free ends thereof, cooperable with said strap latch means to retain said arms in their supporting positions.

3. In a collapsible bag having upper, lower and intermediate stiffeners, a frame for supporting said bag comprising upper and lower base members secured to said upper and lower stiffeners respectively, arms swingably mounted on each of said bases between bag supporting and collapsing positions, each of said arms having latch means, flexible straps fixedly secured to said intermediate stifiener, and means on each of said flexible straps for latching cooperation with said latch means on said arms to latch the same in said supporting positions to support said upper, lower and intermediate stiffeners relative to each other.

4. In a rollable collapsible garment bag having upper, lower and intermediate stiffeners, a collapsible frame therefor comprising upper and lower bases extending along said upper and lower stifleners respectively, arm swingably mounted on said bases at the ends thereof for movement between supporting and collapsing positions, each of said arms including latch means, rollable latch straps fixedly secured on said intermediate stiffener and including latch means extending toward said upper and lower stifieners for latching cooperation with said latch means on each of said arms to latch the latter in their supporting positions and to roll about itself when said arms are collapsed to enable said upper, intermediate and lower stiffeners to be rolled together.

5. A frame as in claim 4, said straps extending across the Width of said intermediate stiffener to interconnect the swingable arms of said upper and lower bases.

6. In a collapsible frame for a garment bag having an intermediate wall and spaced side walls, a base, spaced arms each swingably mounted on said base for movement between an inactive position wherein they overlay said base and an active base wherein they each support a side wall of said bag, spaced flexible straps mounted on said intermediate wall, said straps being rollable about said arms and base when said arms are in theirtinactive overlaying position, said flexible straps each having latch means, and latch means on each of said swingable arms cooperable with said latch means on said flexible straps to latch said arms in their active position to support their respective side walls.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,086,895 Cart July 13, 1937 2,261,291 Salavsky Nov. 4, 1941 2,670,854 Einhorn Mar. 2, 1954 2,705,180 Enrich Mar. 29, 1955 2,754,945 Kish July 17, 1956 

